Public Comment Period Opens October 7 for Maine Library Commission Draft Rule

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October 6, 2026
Maine State Library

Augusta, Maine - The Maine Library Commission announced that the public comment period for a draft rule related to the Maine Regional Library System will open Wednesday October 7, 2026, and remain open for 45 days until 5 pm on Friday November 20, 2026.

27 M.R.S. § 112(2) charges the Maine Library Commission (MLC) with "[e]stablish[ing] the policies and operations of the Maine State Library and the State's library program including minimum standards of library service, the apportionment of state aid to libraries, the designation of library regions and their boundaries, the endorsement of the designation of area reference and resource centers and the designation of research centers after full consideration of the advice of the State Librarian." For decades, the Commission has used the Maine Regional Library System Agreement with participating libraries. Last winter, the Commission was advised that the substantive requirements in the Agreement needed to be in statute or rule in order to be enforceable. This rule establishes those requirements. In addition, the Commission recognizes that it operates in a world of limited human and fiscal resources. This rule allocates those resources in a manner that the Commission believes best serves the people of Maine.

The MLC has followed the Maine Administrative Procedure Act (MAPA) and filed the appropriate rulemaking documents with the Maine Secretary of State to begin the public comment period.

"We encourage comments from all members of the public," said Bryce Cundick, chairman of the Maine Library Commission. "The Commission has put forth its best effort over the last nine months to draft a rule, and now we want to hear from librarians, library staff, library trustees, and community members from around the state."

To comment on the proposed draft rule between 10/7/26 and 11/20/26, please use one of the following avenues:

The public hearing on Tuesday 10/27 will be held in Room 101 of the Deering Building on the former Augusta Mental Health Institute (AMHI) campus at 90 Blossom Lane, Augusta, ME. Commenters can attend in-person or via Zoom. The Zoom link is available on the public comment web page listed above.

About Maine State Library

Established in 1837, the Maine State Library strives to help people, make Maine libraries stronger, and transform information into knowledge. The services provided by Maine State Library are available to all Maine residents and are free of charge. To learn more, visit www.maine.gov/msl.